Stocking-applying device



June 18, 1957 I l l A. H. YOUNG 2,796,207 STOCKING-APPLYING DEVICE Filed Sept. 21, 1954 INVENTOR. x7; MH H. You/Ya,

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STOCKING-APPLYING DEVICE Alma H. Young, Van Wert, Ohio Application September 21, 1954, Serial No. 457,503 Claims. '(Cl. 223-111) This invention relates to a device for facilitating the putting on of a stocking, and has for an object the provision of a stocking guide by which the user may put on her own stockings without bending over, and without assistance by another person. Another object is to provide a stocking guide of economical construction, and which is of easy yet effective operation.

A guide embodying my invention is made in the general form of a calf-length stocking of any appropriate material which is capable of assuming and retaining a definite shape when unstressed but which can readily be distorted when subjected to a modest bending effort. The guide is toeless and possesses a slot extending continuously from its top down the back of the leg and along the sole to the open toe. To the top portions of such guide I provide a connector such as a hose supporter for detachably connecting to the guide a stocking and a strap to furnish an upwardly extending grasping portion during operation of the guide.

The accompanying drawing illustrates my invention:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View showing the guide and stocking ready for application.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the guide alone;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the top of the guide; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmental longitudinal section.

The particular guide shown in the drawing comprises a plurality of layers of fabric and stiffening material. It is conveniently made by applying a conventional knit cotton stocking 10, first cut to about calf-length and having its toe removed, to a leg or leg form and then applying one or more layers of mucilage paper 12 to the stocking.

The guide is then opened by cutting from it a narrow strip extending down the back of the leg and medially along the sole to the open toe. This permits the guide to be spread and removed from the leg or form. After such removal, a lining 14 and an exterior covering 16 of satin or some similar smooth material may be applied to the guide and secured in place as by sewing through the guide-wall. The layered construction gives the guide a definite, though distortable, form, while the lining and covering give desired characteristics of smoothness and attractive appearance.

At the top and on opposite sides of the guide, there are secured to it the ends of a manipulating strap 18 and means are provided for attaching a stocking to the guide. Conveniently, the buttons 20 of conventional hose-supporters are aflixed to the guide while the loops 22 of such supporters are attached to the strap 18.

In use of the device described, a stocking to be worn is pulled over the guide from the lower end, the upper portion of the stocking being turned outwardly and downwardly over the lower, guide-supported portion, as shown in Fig. 1. The loops 22 on the strap 18 are then engaged with the buttons 20, thus anchoring the stocking in place.

States Patent 0 2,796,207 Patented June 18, 1957 Holding the device by the strap, the user inserts the foot into the upper end of the guide and draws guide and stocking over the lower leg. The loops 22 are then disengaged from the buttons 20, thus freeing the stocking from the guide and permitting the latter to be withdrawn. Finally, the upper portion of the stocking is drawn up wardly and secured in position by any convenient means.

This device is primarily intended for use by invalids Whose infirmities prevent them from reaching to the foot to put on stockings in the usual manner. The guide possesses sufficient stiffness to hold the stocking open for insertion of the foot, but is sufiiciently flexible to permit its deformation as it is drawn over and removed from the leg. Because of the stiffness of the guide, the stocking can be adjusted on it to prevent the existence of any twisting of the stocking on the. leg. The guide should have smooth surfaces to prevent injury to sheer hose and to facilitate its withdrawal. The layered construction of the guide is not essential, as the guide can be formed of any smooth-surfaced material sufliciently stiff to maintain its general shape when the stocking is applied to it but sufficiently flexible to permit the distortion it must sustain in being applied to and withdrawn from the leg.

I claim as my invention:

1. A guide device for facilitating the putting on of a stocking, comprising a body member of smooth and flexible material substantially in the shape of the lower leg and foot of a human, said member being open at its lower end and having a slot extending from its open lower end medially along the sole and upwardly to the top of the member, and means for removably connecting a stocking to said member.

2. The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprises buttons secured to said member near the top thereof, and a loop-like pulling-handle means having button-engaging loops attached to it.

3. The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein said body member is formed of stocking material covered exteriorly and lined interiorly with a satin-slick material, and a layer of stiffening material therebetween.

4. A stocking applying device comprising a verticallyelongated member adapted to be inserted within a stocking, said member being flexible and of a shape such that it may conform generally to and embrace that portion of a human leg including the calf and ankle, means adjacent the upper end of such member for securing to it a stocking the calf and ankle portions of which resiliently embrace it, said member being open at its upper and lower ends and having a longitudinal slot extending between such ends and being resiliently deformable to permit the member with the stocking applied thereto to be drawn up over the foot of the user with the said member disposed between the stocking and the leg of the user and to permit said member to be upwardly removed therefrom with the stocking in place on the users leg.

5. The invention set forth in claim 4 including a pulling strap connected to the top of said member to provide a manipulating means for said member operable by the user.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 397,752 Ready Feb. 12, 1889 1,638,206 Kelly Aug. 9, 1927 2,443,115 Park June 8, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 633,930 Great Britain Dec. 30, 1949 

